“Phil is a man of many skills,
a leader unparalleled, and a friend whom you can depend on
to give an honest opinion, like it or not!”
Our former president Clive used these words
to describe Phil M., our current treasurer. Clive saw firsthand
what a valuable asset Phil is to our organization.
Clive wrote, “During a meeting
of the state unit, Council 43, involving delegates from all
thirteen units (at that time), I saw Phil’s firmness
and conviction when he spoke out on an issue. During my four
years of presidency of CUT, I used Phil as my sounding board
before making any major recommendation or proposals –
and I benefited from his wisdom and guidance.”
TRIF member since 1986
Phil has been a member of TRIF since 1986 when
he first joined the Fort Meyers Unit. Phil came to our Clearwater
Unit in 1996.During Maria’s presidency, he became our
first vice president for membership for one year.
As VP for membership, Phil telephoned our members
to remind them of our luncheons and get their reservations
so that he could make sure the restaurant management would
be prepared to serve us. For four or five years, up until
two years ago, Phil greeted us as we arrived at the restaurant
for our monthly lunches, collecting our money to pay the restaurant
bills.
Our treasurer since 1998
In 1998, Phil became our treasurer, a job he
continues to hold to this day. As treasurer, for nearly seven
years now, Phil –
Medical insurance advisor
Phil has played another very important role
in our Unit. He has been the chairman of a committee that
helps our members gather and organize medical bills for submission
to our insurers for reimbursement. Often this help makes all
the difference to our members who may be too sick to try on
their own to get through all the red tape involved in filing
insurance claims, especially those claims under Catastrophic
coverage.
Our representative to our State organization
Phil’s generosity of giving of his time
and effort to TRIF has gone beyond our local Clearwater Unit.
For the last four years, Phil has been our delegate to our
State organization Retirement Council 43 which represents
the interests of sixteen local units – including, or
course, our own Clearwater Unit. He shares with the Council
our concerns and reports back to us the results of Council
meetings. It was the efforts of Council 43 that played an
important role in the delegate assembly in New York –
a role that helped to get a COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment)
for retired New York teachers.
In the last two years, Phil has been secretary
of Council 43 while, at the same time, continuing to serve
our local unit as treasurer.
Retired science teacher and department chairman
Phil retired from the Jericho School District
after twenty six years of service. He had been both a junior
high school science teacher and a science department chairman.
He taught biology and earth science. “For a
couple of years, I was secretary of our local union,”
Phil told me in a recent phone interview.“I
got my bachelors and masters degrees from Clark University
in Worcester, Massachusetts,”
Swims five miles a week
When I asked Phil about his hobbies or other
special interests, I was amazed to learn that Phil goes to
a local health club daily, arriving at 5 A.M. “I’ve
always been an early riser,” Phil said, “and
I still get up early.”
In addition to using weights, Phil swims laps
for thirty five minutes each morning, for a total distance
of about five miles a week.
Court Arbitrator
Maybe it is this daily exercise that gives Phil
the energy and stamina to work so hard for TRIF.—and
to do volunteer work for the Circuit Court in Hillsborough
as a arbitrator in the Juvenile Diversion Program .“If
a youngster gets arrested for petty theft for the first time,”
Phil explained, “instead of sentencing the child
to reform school, the judge might refer him to me.”
Phil then meets with the youngster and parents, and together
they work out a restitution, chores and community service
program.
”If the youngster fails to do
what I told him to do,” Phil said, “I give him
one more chance to do what I required.” If
he again doesn't’t follow through with the plan Phil
had drawn up, Phil transfers the youngster back to the judge
who may decide that the only remaining alternative is jail
or reform-school.
Needed special training
Phil first got interested in state arbitration
when he was president for six years of his condo association
in Port Charlotte, Florida, before moving to this area. When
Phil decided to become a Florida juvenile-case arbitrator,
Phil had to take a thirty hour training course at a local
court.
How much time does Phil devote to this community
service as an arbitrator? “Every Tuesday night,”
Phil said, “I meet with five or six youngsters
and their parents, from 4:30 to 8:00. I only work with youngsters
– both boys and girls – who had clean records
until this – their first criminal offense – which
has to be a petty crime such as shoplifting.”
Earned NYSUT award
Our former president Clive recognized Phil’s
valuable work not only for TRIF, but also for Florida’s
youth. A few years ago, Clive submitted in behalf of Phil
an application for “NYSUT’s competition
to select the most involved NYSUT retiree in Florida.”
Clive’s hard work in gathering and writing
up all the information about Phil’s service to TRIF
and others paid off. Phil won the competition and received
a special honor from NYSUT.
Wins praise of our Co-presidents Charles and Nancy
Phil’s hard work has earned special praise, too, from
our current co-presidents Charles and Nancy:
